"The same bold spirit and drive for
discovery and adventure that drove our nation to unfold the mysteries
of space are playing out in this mission to uncover the mysteries
off of our shores," said U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy
Secretary Sam Bodman. "Thanks to the vision and hard work
of NOAA's ocean exploration team, we stand ready to reap the
numerous benefits of this virtually untapped resource - our nation's
ocean waters."

"Ocean exploration opens up a vast
array of possibilities for scientific discovery and advancement,"
said NOAA Acting Administrator Scott
Gudes. "These two missions and others conducted this
year have given us a taste for this new uncharted world, and
we're eager to build on their promise."

Gudes noted that ocean exploration took
the work of many people to make it happen, but he especially
thanked Senator Hollings. "Senator Hollings is a friend
of the ocean and a strong supporter of ocean exploration. His
support has been critical in this important first step in ocean
exploration," Gudes said.

"Nothing is more appropriate than
having NOAA's Ocean Exploration Voyages' come to Charleston,
a city rich in maritime history and connections with the sea,"
Senator Ernest F. Hollings said. "The scientists and educators
involved in these expeditions are helping to revive a tradition
of ocean exploration that we remember from the days of Jacques
Cousteau."

"They will surely have exciting stories
to tell and experiences to share about the Atlantic coast, including
research on the mysterious South Atlantic Bight  the cradle
of Atlantic marine life and the site of yet unexplored marine
resources," Hollings said. "I am particularly pleased
that NOAA's scientists have been working side by side with South
Carolina's scientists and managers, and that they will be sharing
their results directly with our teachers and students in South
Carolina. I sincerely hope the experience will inspire a passion
for ocean exploration, marine science, and coastal conservation
that will last for years to come."

There were six major expeditions this summer
covering all of the contiguous U.S. oceanic coastline, from the
Lewis and Clark Legacy in the Pacific Northwest, to Islands in
the Stream in the Gulf of Mexico, to Deep East from Maine to
Georgia. Missions included preserving the U.S. Civil War vessel
Monitor, surveying
an unexplored underwater canyon, and installing an electronic
listening device - a hydrophone - off of the California coast
to listen to the sounds of the sea, from whales to ships to earthquakes.

"The time was right for such an effort,"
said Capt. Craig McLean, director of NOAA's Office
of Ocean Exploration. "Over the past few decades, we
have significantly increased our understanding of the oceans.
Advances in ocean exploration technology have revolutionized
the way we explore them. We are increasingly aware of our dependence
on the oceans for healthy fisheries, clean habitats, and the
potential to discover new medicines and answer questions about
our environment. Yet, 95 percent of the ocean remains unexplored."

Ocean exploration captures the imagination,
which is what this year's missions did for the many people of
all ages who traveled along electronically and shared the excitement
and the awe. Armchair explorers can travel along without getting
wet via the office's website at http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration is dedicated to enhancing economic
security and national safety through the prediction and research
of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental
stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources.